29 p
Business of the House
7/7/88.
The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John Wakeham): With permission, Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a statement about the business for next week:
MONDAY 11 JULY-Second Reading of the European Communities (Finance) Bill. Details of the documents relevant to the debate will be given in the Official Report. Motion on the Rate Support Grant (Scotland) Order. Remaining stages of the Court of Session Bill [Lords], which is a consolidation measure.
TUESDAY 12 JULY-Opposition day (18th Allotted Day). Until about seven o'clock, there will be a debate entitled "The growing divide between rich and poor in London”. Afterwards, there will be a debate entitled "Public provision for sport for all”. Both debates will arise on Opposition motions.
Motion relating to the Wireless Telegraphy (Broadcast Licence Charges and Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations.
Motion to take note of EC documents on the control of chlorofluorocarbons and the ozone layer. Details will be given in the Official Report.
WEDNESDAY 13 JULY-Ways and Means Resolution relating to the Finance (No. 2) Bill.
Progress on remaining stages of the Finance (No. 2) Bill.
Motion on short speeches.
THURSDAY 14 JULY-Completion of remaining stages of the Finance (No. 2) Bill.
Mineworkers'
Motion on the Redundant Concessionary Coal (Payments Schemes) (Amendment) Order.
Motion on the Army, Air Force and Naval Discipline Acts (Continuation) Order.
FRIDAY 15 JULY-There will be a debate on Hong Kong on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.
MONDAY 18 JULY-Estimates day (3rd Allotted Day). There will be debates on hospital and community health and other services. England (class XIV, vote I) and on the Training Commission (class VII, vote 5) so far as it relates to adult employment and youth training.
Relevant documents:
Monday 11 July 1988: Undertaking as confirmed by the representatives of the Governments of the member states of the European Communities meeting within the Council to make payments to finance the Communities general budget for the financial year 1988 (CM 418); Decision of the Council of the European Communities on the system of the Communities' own resources (CM 419); Treasury and Civil Service Committee fifth report Session 1987-88 (HC 358).
Relevant European Community documents: (a) 5647/88. Gross National Product; (b) Unnumbered. Correction of budgetary imbalances: United Kingdom abatement. Relevant reports of European Legislation Committee: (a) HC 43-xxvi (1987-88), paragraph 1; (b) HC 43-xxxii (1987-88), paragraph 4.
Tuesday 12 July: Relevant European Community documents: (a) 8335/87 Chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere; (b) 4997/88 + COR 1 Protection of the ozone layer. Relevant reports of European Legislation Committee:
(a) HC 43-iii (1987-88), para. 3; (b) HC 43-xxi (1987-88), para. 1, HC 43-xxvii (1987-88), para. 1 and HC 43-xxxii (1987-88), para. 1.
Mr. Frank Dobson
Does the right hon. Gentleman intend that all stages of the European Communities (Finance) Bill should be taken on the Floor of the House rather than in Committee upstairs?
Finally, will the Leader of the House take this opportunity to spell out for hon. Members the arrangements for the ceremony in Westminster Hall on 20 July to mark the tercentenary of the Declaration of Rights, the Bill of Rights and the claim of right?
Mr. Wakeham:
I intend to have discussions through the usual channels to decide how best to handle the European Communities (Finance) Bill, but it would be my present intention-I think this is the right thing to do—to commit the Bill to a Committee of the whole House.
With regard to the Westminster Hall ceremony, it is proposed that both Houses will present their addresses to Her Majesty the Queen to mark the tercentenary of the revolutions of 1688 and 1689 and of the Bill of Rights in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 20 July at 11 am. Hon. Members have been asked to notify Mr. Speaker's Office if they or their spouses wish to attend so that seats may be reserved for them and tickets issued in advance. Hon. Members and their spouses must be in their places by 10.30 am. Because each House will be attending formally on the Sovereign, Members will be seated separately. The ceremony is expected to end with the departure of the Queen at about 11.30 am.
Mr. Alfred Morris (Manchester, Wythenshawe): As the European Commission is required to put forward proposals about New Zealand's butter exports to the United Kingdom by the end of this month, will the Leader of the House arrange for a statement next week on the British Government's decision on that important matter, having full regard to the Prime Minister's comments in this House on 19 May?
Mr. Wakeham: I recognise the right hon. Gentleman's long-standing interest in such matters. The best thing that I can do is to refer his point to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agricultue, Fisheries and Food.
Sir Peter Blaker (Blackpool, South): Following the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) about the foreign affairs debate, the point was not only that the speeches were rather long, but that the lapse of time since we had a previous foreign affairs debate was so long that an enormous number of hon. Members wanted to speak. Will my right hon. Friend bear that in mind and can we have another debate on foreign affairs reasonably soon?
Mr. Wakeham: I recognise the strength of what my right hon. Friend says, which is a logical deduction from last week's debate. I shall do my best, but I do not promise such a debate in the near future.
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